Key



Sept. 10, 1935. c, M, McCORD KEY Filed June 25, 1954 /2 v 1, /////////////////7/4AA .f/V//Y a ad: hm!

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Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

- only be disengaged for removal and removed by the use of a special key and handle.

It is often desirable to lock the covers of manholes or meter boxes in place so that unauthorized access may not be had to the manhole or meter box by the removal of such covers.

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide means for locking manhole, meter box, or other covers in place;

To provide means for guarding the locking means against unauthorized access thereto;

- being removed, the key also being shown partially in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional elevation of the same rim and cover with the key fully inserted and 1e lock disengaged, ready for key to be used l as a handle to remove the lid.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the lid.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lid to show the lock barrel with key removed, the view being taken at right angles to the views in Figs. 1 and 2, to permit omission of other parts;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the detached key; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the key taken as on the line VIVI of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, H] is a manhole or meter box rim, having inward projecting flanges ll, I2, which in cylindrical rims are preferably portions of a continuous annular flange. i3 is a lid which is to be locked to this rim. I4 is a lug integral with the lid, which lug is provided with a notch 15, permitting the lug to engage under the flange ll. I6 is a locking bolt diametrically opposite the lug 14. The outer end I! of this bolt engages under the flange I2 when the lid is locked in place on the rim. This outer end is slidably supported from the lid, pref erably by a transverse member 18, which is carried by a slotted, or two spaced lugs 19 integral with and depending from the lid, these parts forming a slot, the bolt projecting beyond the slot into flange engagement. Also depending from the lid are spaced lugs 29 which carry a horizontally disposed pin 25 on which a locking weight 22 is pivoted, this weight extending laterally outward from the pivot pin in the direction of the bolt end ll. An arm 23 integral with the weight extends inward to underlie the lock release parts. Spaced lugs 24 also preferably integral with the weight 22 extend upward therefrom opposite the pivot pin 2i, and carry a pin 25 on which the inner end of the bolt it is pivotally mounted. When the outer end of the weight is raised as in Fig. 2 the bolt is retracted, when such end drops as in Fig. 1, the bolt is extended to locking position.

The lock release comprises a barrel 3D integral with the lid, which barrel has one or more spiral openings 3i. extending downward therethrough, two being shown. These openings extend entirely through the lid and barrel and form tortuous passageways which are separated and guarded by a solid central core and spiral flanges 32, 33 respectively. 34 is a hollow cylindrical key having its lower half spirally slotted to form spiral tongues 35 corresponding in size, spacing and pitch with the spiral slots iii of the barrel, and adapted to be screwed downward therethrough against the arm 23, to depress the arm and with-. draw the connected bolt I6 unlocking and releasing the lid. l3 for removal. 36 is the key handle.

It is found that there is a tendency for the lid to unscrew from the key when the latter is used as a handle. To prevent this the key may be provided with a sleeve 4i], having a base flange 4|, from which a detent 42 projects, this detent preferably being a ball rotatably mounted in a suitable depression in the underside of the flange 4|. The depression for the ball is made slightly more than half the ball diameter in depth and of size to loosely hold the ball. The ball is placed in such depression and the depression edges sufliciently peened to retain the ball. Sleeve 45 has a closed end slot 43 and is prevented from turning by a pin 44 secured in the key 34. A compression spring 45 disposed between the handle 36 and the flange 4| urges the sleeve downward, this movement being limited by the pin 44 cooperating with upper end of the slot 43. The lid I3 is pro- 55 vided with a plurality of notches 46 complementary to the ball 42.

To place the lid on the rim, the key 34 is screwed through the slotted barrel 3!), depressing arm 23 and retracting bolt l6. In doing this the flange M is moved upward compressing spring 45 and engaging ball 42 successively with the notches 45 until bolt retraction is accomplished. Lid I3 may now be lifted by key handle 36, detent-ball 42 holding the key and rim against relative rotation. Lug i4 is engaged under flange II and opposite side of rim lowered to place. Key is turned to disengage detent and unscrewed and removed, weight 22 moving bolt I6 into locking position beneath flange 2|. To unlock substantially the same procedure is followed except that bolt side of lid must first be raised.

It will be understood that the key may have one tongue only though the barrel have two slots, and that both barrel and key may have one slot and tongue respectively.

What I claim is:

1. Means for releasing a locked member comprising a key having a spiral tongue adapted to enter a complementary opening in said member, said key including a handle portion, and ratchet means cooperable with said member for detachably retaining said key in inserted position, whereby said key may serve as a handle for said member.

2. Means for releasing a cover locked to a rim, comprising a key having a spiral tongue adapted to enter a complementary opening through said cover, said key having a handle portion, ratchet means carried by said handle portion cooperable with said cover, a spring urging said ratchet means against said cover, for detachably retaining said key in inserted position, whereby said key may serve as a handle for removing said cover.

3. Means for releasing a locked member comprising a key having a spiral tongue adapted to enter a complementary opening in said member, said key having a handle part, detent means carried by said key cooperable with depressions in said member, a spring urging said detent means against said member, for detachably retaining said key in inserted position, whereby said key may serve as a handle for said member.

4. Means for releasing a locked member, comprising a key having a spiral tongue adapted to enter a complementary opening in said member, said keyhaving a handle portion, a sleeve slidably disposed between said handle portion and said tongue, a detent carried by said sleeve, 2. spring urging said sleeve and detent against said member, said member having a plurality of complecured through said solid portion and transversely disposed to said tube.

6. Means for releasing a locked member, comprising a tube having a grip member transversely disposed thereto and secured therethrough adjacent an end thereof, the opposite end portion of said tube being spirally slotted to form two symmetrically disposed spiral tongues complementary to apertures in said member, a substantial portion of said tube between said tongues and said grip member being left solid to form with said member a handle portion, and the slotted end of said tube being faced at right angles to form a fiat actuating end on said tongues.

7. Means for releasing a locked member, comprising a tubular member slotted spirally inward from an end thereof to form a spiral tongue complementary to an aperture in said member, a substantial portion of said tube being left solid to provide an extending handle portion and a grip member secured through said solid portion and transversely disposed to said tube.

8. Means for releasing a locked member comprising a tube having a grip member transversely disposed thereto and secured therethrough adjacent an end thereof, the opposite end portion of said tube being spirally slotted to form a spiral tongue complementary to an aperture in said member, a substantial portion of said tube between said tongue and said grip member being left solid to form with said member a handle portion, and the slotted end of said tube being faced at right angles to form a flat actuating end on said tongue.

9. Means for releasing a locked member comprising a tube having a grip member secured therethrough adjacent an end thereof and having the opposite end portion spirally slotted to form two symmetrically disposed spiral tongues, complementary to apertures in said member, a substantial portion of said tube between said tongue 0 and said grip member being left solid to form with said member a handle portion, and the slotted end of said tube being faced at right angles to form a flat end on said tongues.

CLAUDE M. McCORD. 

